The Library Book Club is everybody’s book club. Fancy a refreshing read, a change of scenery and a nourishing encounter? Come and read The Fire Next Time with us!
About the book and its author
The Fire Next Time consists of two essays: the latter is “Down at the Cross,” which appeared in The New Yorker on 10 and 17 November 1962 under the title “Letter from a Region of My Mind;” and the former ”My Dungeon Shook,” which is a letter Baldwin wrote to his nephew a few months later, on occasion of the 100-year anniversary of the emancipation of all enslaved people in the USA. It is in this chronological order that the Library Book Club will read the essays.
James Baldwin (1924 – 1987) grew up in Harlem, New York City, and was a writer of novels, essays, poems and plays; as well as civil rights activist and public intellectual. At age 24, he left New York City for Paris, where he lived nine years, and which would be a gateway for years of travel across Eurasia and Africa. It is in this context, of observing his home country from abroad and hearing of the civil rights movement, that he wrote the two essays at hand.
In The Fire Next Time Baldwin manages a societal critique that is deeply personal, clear cut yet loving, and activating. In our own time, that is seemingly defined by fracture, it is worthwhile to sit with his observant, patient and invigorating analysis. What can we learn from Baldwin’s portrayal of race, religion and society in our own context; and what would we have to add?
“The subtle and deadly change of heart that might occur in you would be involved with the realization that a civilization is not destroyed by wicked people; it is not necessary that people be wicked but only that they be spineless.” -James Baldwin, “Down at the Cross,” The Fire Next Time (Penguin, 2024): p. 41.
Practicalities
- We’ve picked the Penguin Modern Classics edition of 2024 as a reference point (ISBN 9780140182750), so page numbers align with that edition.
- For the first session we’ll be discussing pp. 9 – 36, which is the opening of the essay “Down at the Cross” (until the break at ‘… we got rid of Him.’). For session two, we read on till p. 61 (break at ‘… at the enemy’s door.’); and for session three we finish “Down at the Cross” (till p. 78) and read “My Dungeon Shook” (pp. 1 – 8).
- This book club season consists of three biweekly sessions on Tuesdays 14 April, 28 April and 12 May; you’re not obliged to participate all sessions.
- The location is the Library Lounge, at the entry of the University Library in the Main Building (HG-01A01).
- There’s no need to sign up. If you’d like to receive updates and also to vote for books in the future, you can join the group chat (WhatsApp).
Schedule
5:30 p.m. walk-in: you’re welcome to come in early, to bridge time or to bring and have dinner.
6:15 p.m. opening: we kick off with a round of introductions, and a brief introduction of the book.
6:25 p.m. group discussion: we share our experience and findings reading the book so far.
7:25 p.m. summarising: we look ahead to the next session and summarise today’s session.
7:45 p.m. end or socialising: we end the session, although you’re welcome to stick around until the building closes.
About the Library Book Club
The Library Book Club is for anyone roaming VU’s campus. We read a few books each year, and try to throw something new into the mix each time; passing fiction and non-fiction, poetry and prose, short stories and longer ones along the way. Our librarians select three candidates for a season and you get to vote. If you’d like to engage with this group more often, the easiest way to get involved is through the group chat (WhatsApp).